EP 54: Stan Bryant on Translating Vision Into Action

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Stan Bryant, a senior project management professional and principal of Strategic Initiative Solutions. With a career spanning large-scale technology integration, operations leadership, and PMO development, Stan shares what it takes to lead complex projects, build PMOs that prove their value, and help organizations connect project execution to measurable business results.

🔻Why projects are often born from pain points leaders no longer want to tolerate, from mandates to cost pressures to operational inefficiencies.

🔻How project leaders can better communicate with sponsors by matching updates to stakeholder influence and interest.

🔻Why discipline in planning, stakeholder management, communication, and risk mitigation is essential for project success.

🔻Why change management and formal authorization plans are often the missing link between project delivery and real operational adoption.

EP 53: Lyndsay MacLeod on Leadership That Sustains Change

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Lyndsay MacLeod, an award-winning continuous improvement professional with more than 20 years of experience leading transformational change across engineering, manufacturing, and financial services. With a background spanning Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, Agile, and operational excellence, Lyndsay shares how Lean principles can strengthen technology teams, why visibility matters in software delivery, and how leaders can build cultures of learning instead of fear.

🔻 Why Lean thinking is especially valuable in technology organizations with complexity, legacy systems, and technical debt.

🔻 How value stream mapping helps software teams understand flow, expose bottlenecks, and improve feature delivery.

🔻 How control charts create better conversations than red-amber-green dashboards by separating normal variation from true signals.

🔻 How leadership mindset and behavior play a major role in creating high-performing teams and sustainable transformation.

🔻 Why Lyndsay’s perspective on applying Lean in male-dominated environments highlights the resilience, credibility, and adaptability needed to make improvement work.

EP 52: Christoph Roser on Why Improvement Fails Without Standard Work

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Chris Roser, a worldwide renowned expert for lean production; Toyota, McKinsey, and Bosch Alumni, and professor for Production Management at the Karlsruhe University of applied sciences.. Drawing on decades of experience in manufacturing, supply chain management, bottleneck detection, and Lean research, Chris explains why improvement fails without standard work.

🔻 Why Toyota and BMW get dramatically more improvement ideas from frontline workers than most Western companies.

🔻 How supervisors use regular checklists to make improvement part of daily work instead of an extra task

🔻 Why the smallest improvement ideas often create the biggest long-term advantage when companies actually pick them up

🔻 The critical difference between work standards, standard work, SOPs, and leader standard work

🔻 Why copying Toyota tool-for-tool usually fails, and what companies should do instead

🔻 Why improvement disappears when it is not captured and sustained through work standards

EP 51: Nick Belcher on Creating a People-First Lean Culture

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Nick Belcher, a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean Culture Architect who has spent decades helping organizations move beyond Lean tools and build people-first improvement cultures. Nick shares why lasting transformation happens when leaders focus on developing people, reinforcing behaviors, and embedding continuous improvement into everyday work rather than treating it as a separate initiative.

🔻 Why Lean tools alone cannot sustain improvement without cultural change

🔻 What a people-first Lean culture actually looks like in practice

🔻 Why leadership behaviors determine whether Lean succeeds or fails

🔻 Why continuous improvement must become part of daily work

🔻 The role of engagement and trust in sustaining Lean transformations

🔻 How organizations move from isolated improvements to enterprise-wide learning

🔻 Why developing people is the foundation of operational excellence

EP 50: Marcial Portillo on Building Systems and Behaviors That Make Improvement Stick

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Marcial Portillo, a global operations and continuous improvement leader with more than 30 years of experience improving manufacturing and supply chain performance across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Marcial currently leads deployment of Spirax’s operational excellence framework across its global supply network.

🔻 Why Lean tools without cultural foundation eventually fade away

🔻 Blending Shingo principles with a global operational excellence framework

🔻 Defining expected behaviors for every pillar and element of deployment

🔻 Leadership standard work and the importance of going to the Gemba

🔻 Structuring tiered meetings (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) to drive engagement

🔻 Measuring behaviors alongside SQDCP metrics

🔻 How daily management improves communication and problem escalation

🔻 Using KPIs and KBIs to reinforce systems and culture

🔻 The role of presence, authenticity, and consistency in sustaining change

🔻 Building dashboards that track maturity, financial impact, and culture

EP 49: Jennifer Ralston on Aligning Strategy and Culture

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Jennifer Ralston. As CEO & Founder of HKPO and the HKPO Veterans Academy, she empowers organizations to innovate, execute, and sustain excellence. From Lean Six Sigma transformations at the American Red Cross to global strategic planning and culture assessments, Jennifer shares practical insights on cascading strategy, measuring what truly matters, and building trust-driven organizations.

🔻 Why strategic alignment is the foundation of strong culture

🔻 How to cascade strategy so every employee knows their role

🔻 The difference between SOPs and true standard work

🔻 Trust and respect as core cultural principles

🔻 How to run an effective strategy refresh session

🔻 Why organizations measure too much—and how to measure what truly matters

🔻 How leadership behaviors shape accountability

🔻 Why variation is the enemy—and how to eliminate it

🔻 Empowering transitioning service members through the HKPO Veterans Academy

EP 48: Reed Shell on Combining AI, Agile, and Lean for Real Execution

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Reed Shell, a project management leader with more than 30 years of experience in enterprise delivery and transformation. Reed teaches project management and artificial intelligence at the University of Utah and advises organizations on applying AI responsibly without losing human accountability.

🔻 Why quality must be integrated throughout a project—not inspected in at the end

🔻 How focusing on value instead of plans accelerated delivery before Agile was formalized

🔻 Lessons from Nike’s culture and why culture drives execution speed

🔻 Why respect for people is foundational to Lean and transformation

🔻 The real risk of AI: automating broken processes

🔻 Why value stream mapping and Lean thinking will be even more critical in an AI-driven world

🔻 AI as an “overly ambitious intern” that removes low-value work

🔻 Why change management is the missing ingredient in most AI rollouts

🔻 The autopilot analogy: AI handles the instruments, humans still fly the plane

🔻 How leaders can help teams embrace technology instead of fearing it

EP 47: Dean Kynaston on Leadership Gaps That Kill Agile

Why does Agile fail even when teams are trained and processes are in place? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris talks with Dean Kynaston, co-author of Agile Project Management for Dummies and Scrum for Dummies, about the leadership gaps that quietly derail Agile.

🔻 Why Agile is about adaptability, not process compliance

🔻 The difference between Agile values and the Scrum framework

🔻 What actually happens in an effective daily standup

🔻 The real role of Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and team members

🔻 Why story points are not a measure of productivity

🔻 How transparency and accountability emerge naturally on strong teams

🔻 Why leadership behavior determines whether Agile succeeds or fails

EP 46: Chris Gunderson on Putting Your Money Where Your Powerpoint Is

Why do large organizations invest heavily in technology and still fail to deliver real value? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Chris Gunderson, a former oceanographic officer who spent decades working inside U.S. defense programs.

🔻 Why “technology without value is worthless” and how organizations confuse output with impact

🔻 How Porter’s value chain connects upstream activity to downstream customer value

🔻 Why incentives, not strategy decks, determine behavior

🔻 The danger of rewarding PowerPoint instead of results

🔻 What effective executives consistently do differently when allocating people, money, and attention

🔻 How fear, hierarchy, and compliance quietly undermine execution

EP 45: Michael Stevens on Culture as a Leadership Tool

How do leaders unknowingly create cultures of compliance instead of commitment? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Michael Stevens, Presidential Professor of Leadership Studies and a global expert on the people side of performance, to explore what truly separates management from leadership and why respect, not authority, is the real driver of execution.

🔻 Why leadership is less about directing work and more about influencing how people choose to show up

🔻 The critical difference between managing processes and leading people

🔻 Michael’s two-axis leadership model: assertive vs passive and respectful vs disrespectful

🔻 Why intent does not matter nearly as much as how leadership behavior lands with employees

🔻 The concept of “intelligent disobedience” and why leaders must create space for employees to challenge decisions

🔻 Why asking questions before giving answers dramatically increases ownership and execution

🔻 How emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and empathy enable better leadership conversations

🔻 The four barriers that prevent managers from becoming leaders: knowing, doing, feeling, and being

🔻 Why “clear is kind” even when feedback stings and how respectful candor builds trust

EP 44: Evan Unger on Transforming Meeting Culture

How do bad meetings quietly destroy culture, morale, and execution? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Evan Unger, a leadership and culture expert with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations improve how decisions actually get made.

🔻 Why meetings are where leadership actually shows up—and why people judge leaders based on how meetings feel

🔻 The real cost of 50% effective meetings on culture, morale, and execution

🔻 Evan’s POPRA model for effective meetings: Purpose, Objectives, Process, Roles, and Agreements

🔻 The difference between informational meetings, status updates, and true collaborative decision-making sessions

🔻 Why the “highest paid person’s opinion” (HPPO) often derails better decisions

🔻 How collaborative facilitation leads to stronger buy-in and faster execution

🔻 Practical techniques for running better virtual meetings, including timeboxing and simultaneous chat

🔻 Why leaders must “go slow to go fast” when designing meetings that actually stick

🔻 How improving meetings becomes one of the fastest ways to change organizational culture

EP 43: Bryan Schmidt on Building Systems That Win

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bryan Schmidt, a CPA, author, and finance transformation leader who spent more than two decades turning manual, paper-heavy finance processes into streamlined, automated systems.

🔻 Why ERP systems are the foundation of any successful finance transformation

🔻 The simple ROI math executives expect and how to frame improvement ideas for approval

🔻 Why quick wins matter more than big projects early on

🔻 How automation can improve morale, not just efficiency

🔻 Why honesty and trust are essential when leading change

🔻 Practical advice for CI leaders on prioritization, governance, and learning from every project

EP 42: Claire Quigley on Fixing Failing Transformations

How do you make innovation and transformation actually stick instead of stalling out in planning decks and dashboards? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Claire Quigley, founder of Tech Team Whisperer. With more than 20 years of experience spanning strategy, innovation, digital transformation, and people leadership across startups and global organizations, Claire explains why most transformations fail and what leaders must do to become truly transformation-ready.

🔻 Why transformation success rates have barely changed in the last decade and what leaders overlook.

🔻 What it really means to be “transformation ready” before launching major initiatives.

🔻 Why purpose, not technology, is the anchor for successful innovation and change.

🔻 How leadership assumptions quietly derail improvement efforts.

🔻 The difference between tracking green dashboards and recognizing real progress on the floor.

🔻 Why adoption and utilization matter more than rolling out new digital tools.

🔻 How AI anxiety and “AI shame” show up inside organizations and what leaders can do about it.

🔻 Why visual thinking, value stream mapping, and simple CI tools still matter in digital teams.

🔻 How storytelling and better questions help leaders drive alignment and engagement.

EP 41 : Keshawn Cupid on Mindset, Metrics, and Momentum

How do you build a continuous improvement system that works across industries, scales with growth, and actually changes how people think and act? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Keshawn Cupid, CEO of Modern Kaizen. Drawing on his journey from the U.S. Navy to consulting across manufacturing, healthcare, food service, government contracting, and more, Keshawn shares why mindset comes before tools and how organizations can move from good intentions to real, repeatable results.

🔻 How mindset shifts unlock better problem solving, ownership, and engagement.

🔻 Why standard work is essential for consistency, learning, and sustainable improvement.

🔻 The difference between solving the current state and solving the gap.

🔻 Why over-motivated employees can unintentionally create risk without clear structure.

🔻 How CI managers act as translators between leadership goals and frontline execution.

🔻 Real-world examples of how chasing the wrong metric drives the wrong behavior.

🔻 Why Lean works in any industry where work is repeatable, from manufacturing to hospitals to food service.

🔻 How AI can turn complexity into clarity when paired with sound improvement thinking.

EP 40: Bob Emiliani on The Discipline of Lean Leadership

How often do organizations say they are “doing Lean” while quietly undermining it through everyday leadership behaviors? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bob Emiliani, a respected author, researcher, and longtime critic of superficial Lean implementations. Bob shares candid insights on why most Lean transformations fail, the difference between tools and true Lean thinking, and how leadership behavior either enables or destroys continuous improvement.

🔻 Why most Lean transformations fail even when the right tools are in place.

🔻 How leadership behavior shapes culture more than any CI methodology.

🔻 Why “respect for people” is often misunderstood or ignored in practice.

🔻 The hidden ways classical management destroys improvement.

🔻 How organizations unintentionally create resistance to change.

🔻 What leaders must unlearn before Lean can truly take hold.

🔻 Why real improvement requires changing management thinking, not just processes.

EP 39: Dan Barata on The Leadership Discipline Missing In Most Transformations

How do you build a continuous improvement culture that actually sticks, especially across large, complex organizations? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Dan Barata, Corporate Director of Continuous Improvement at East Penn Manufacturing. With decades of experience across manufacturing, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, Dan shares why CI must start with people, not tools, and how leaders can create the space, safety, and opportunity for real improvement to happen.

🔻 How Dan’s early path in industrial engineering shaped his people-first approach to continuous improvement.

🔻 Why training alone does not equal empowerment and what leaders must do next.

🔻 The importance of building human connection before introducing process improvement.

🔻 How failing forward is different from simply failing and why not all failures are created equal.

🔻 Why standard work is the foundation for improvement and not the enemy of creativity.

🔻 How leaders can create psychological safety so people feel comfortable trying new ideas.

🔻 Why engagement and alignment matter as much as cost savings when measuring CI impact.

🔻 Dan’s guidance on utilization, capacity, and creating time for both improvement and people development.

🔻 Why coaching and mentoring matter more than running a few isolated improvement projects

EP 38: Janine LeaBarrett on Building Resilient Teams That Deliver

How do you build resilience and continuous improvement into your life and work, no matter the challenge? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Janine LeaBarrett, a governance and engineering leader whose career spans mining, construction, local government, and five seasons in Antarctica. From surviving a life-changing accident to leading teams in some of the harshest conditions on earth, Janine shares practical lessons on clarity, safety, and why continuous improvement matters everywhere.

🔻 How Janine became an electrician in a male-dominated field and developed a mindset for continuous improvement.

🔻 What five seasons in Antarctica taught her about teamwork, safety, and engineering in extreme conditions.

🔻 How surviving a major accident shaped her resilience and philosophy of “get on with it.”

🔻 Why she believes continuous improvement is essential in every industry.

🔻 Her leadership advice for new supervisors: seek input from everyone and ensure clarity.

🔻 Why the Five Whys remains her go-to problem-solving tool.

🔻 Why resilience matters: “If you can’t bounce back, you can’t get stronger.”

EP 37: Chris Hayes on How to Wire Your Organization for Excellence

What if the key to sustaining improvement has less to do with tools and more to do with the brain itself? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Chris Hayes, CEO of Impact Performance Solutions, Shingo Licensed Affiliate, ASQ Fellow, and author of Wired for Excellence: Harnessing Brain Science for Organizational Success.

🔻 Why improvement wins fade and how the Shingo Model strengthens sustainment

🔻 The brain science of change and how the amygdala triggers threat responses

🔻 Why logic alone never drives change and why people need safety and clarity

🔻 The five domains of the B.R.A.I.N. Model and how they shape culture

🔻 How leaders can reduce threat, spark reward responses, and boost engagement

🔻 How clarity, communication rhythms, and small wins support sustainment

EP 36: Adriana Girdler on Habits of Great Project Managers

In this episode, Keith sits down with Adriana Girdler, President & Chief Efficiency Officer at CornerStone Dynamics, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, PMP, productivity expert, and one of the top project management voices in North America. With over 260K YouTube subscribers and 20+ years leading organizational transformation, Adriana breaks down what organizations get wrong about project work and why clarity, alignment, and methodology matter more than any tool.

🔻 Adriana’s unexpected start in productivity and PM (thanks, Franklin Planner)

🔻 Why “accidental project managers” are everywhere — and why they struggle

🔻 The real definition of a project: start date, end date, deliverable

🔻 Why technology is just a tool — not the solution to productivity

🔻 What every charter must include (and why it’s your navigation system)

🔻 The three levels of project roles: sponsors, steering committees & SMEs

🔻 How project managers must shift into strategic leadership roles

🔻 The danger of siloed work and why PMs must be the connective tissue

🔻 Why organizations unintentionally set teams up for failure

🔻 Project management in the age of AI — what changes, what doesn’t

EP 35: Tina Agustiady on What It Really Takes to Build a Culture of Excellence

What does it really take to build a culture of excellence? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Tina Agustiady, award-winning continuous improvement leader, author, and Vice President at J.P. Morgan Chase. With decades of experience leading Lean and Six Sigma transformations across major organizations, Tina shares what it means to create lasting improvement by putting people first.

🔻 Why culture, not tools, is the true foundation of Lean and Six Sigma success

🔻 How to make training programs hands-on, relevant, and results-driven

🔻 The role of emotional intelligence and humility in effective leadership

🔻 What companies get wrong about continuous improvement and how to fix it

🔻 How change management and empowerment fuel the next generation of leaders

🔻 Why continuous improvement is like breathing, if you stop, you will not last

EP 34: Lorenzo Long on Making Sustainability Everyone’s Job

How can sustainability become more than a buzzword and drive real improvement? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Lorenzo Long, Sustainability Coordinator for Ogden City, to explore how cities can turn environmental goals into practical, measurable change. From energy efficiency to policy design, Lorenzo shares how small wins and smart framing create lasting impact.

🔻 How Ogden City is embedding sustainability into its long-term planning and daily operations

🔻 Why “framing” matters and how changing the language from sustainability to resilience builds buy-in

🔻 How to measure what matters with the KPIs behind Ogden’s Energy Wise Strategic Plan

🔻 Lessons from Weber State’s revolving sustainability fund that pays for itself

🔻 How small-scale tests like an electric vehicle pilot program can spark large-scale change

🔻 Why every organization, big or small, should start with one sustainability champion

EP 33: Pete Gough on What Great Leaders Do Differently

What does it take to build a culture where improvement sticks? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Pete Gough, retired transformation leader and former head of Business Improvement at major mining organizations including Rio Tinto, Newcrest, and Goldfields. Over his decades-long career, Pete helped shape hundreds of improvement projects, mentored future leaders, and proved that true transformation starts with people, not tools.

🔻 Turning Lean, Six Sigma, and change leadership into one practical “MMA-style” approach to improvement

🔻 Why executive visibility and genuine engagement are the foundation for lasting cultural change

🔻 How to design training programs that grow future leaders, not just project managers

🔻 The role of business improvement teams in connecting strategy, operations, and people

🔻 How to quantify hard versus soft savings and set realistic, stretch targets for improvement

🔻 Lessons from leading CI across global mining sites and cultures

EP 32: Steve Burkle on What Makes Improvement Efforts Succeed (or Fail)

What makes improvement efforts succeed or fail? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Steve Burkle, Global Director of Operational Excellence, to explore the real factors that determine whether continuous improvement takes root or fades away. With more than 30 years leading OpEx transformations, Steve shares lessons learned from the front lines, what it takes to sustain change, develop problem solvers, and create a culture where improvement never stops.

🔺 Why listening, not lecturing, is the most underrated leadership skill in continuous improvement

🔺 How to turn daily management systems and tiered huddles into the backbone of a thriving CI culture

🔺 The difference between doing improvement to people and doing it with them

🔺 What separates quick-win projects from true operational excellence

🔺 How to measure what really matters, so data drives behavior, not just dashboards

EP 31: Darren Dolcemascolo on Coaching Leaders to Build Problem Solvers

What separates companies that try Lean from those that live it? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Darren Dolcemascolo, co-founder and managing partner of EMS Consulting Group, to talk about what it really takes to create sustainable improvement. From his early career in operations to helping hundreds of organizations transform through Lean, Darren shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, engagement, and how to keep the momentum going when improvement fatigue sets in.

🔺 Why culture—not tools—determines the success of Lean initiatives

🔺 How to teach problem-solving as a daily practice, not a one-time project

🔺 Why humility and curiosity are the real superpowers of Lean leadership

🔺 How to balance structure and flexibility in CI programs

🔺 What to look for when assessing whether your organization is ready for Lean transformation

EP 30: Keith Norris on Lessons In Continuous Improvement

In this special 30th episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris looks back on the most powerful lessons shared across thirty conversations with leaders, thinkers, and change-makers in the world of continuous improvement.

From the shop floor to the boardroom, these stories reveal a simple truth — improvement isn’t about tools or projects, but about people, culture, leadership, and daily habits that make progress sustainable.

🔻 Improvement starts with people

🔻 Culture is the real competitive advantage

🔻 Improvement is a team sport — and leaders create the conditions for change

🔻 Improvement is a habit, not a project

EP 29: Jared Thatcher on Cost Improvement That Doesn’t Burn People Out

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Jared Thatcher, Lean Business Consultant, founder of the Global Lean Summit, and author of Parenting the Lean Way, to explore how companies can drive continuous cost improvement without draining their people.

🔺 Why Lean should never stand for “less employees are needed”

🔺 How to use Lean to build morale, not fear

🔺 The role of leadership in protecting improvement culture

🔺 Practical examples of cost savings that boost engagement

🔺 How to apply Lean thinking to every part of life, from the office to parenting

EP 28: Luca Guadagnuolo on Leading Lean Across Cultures

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Luca Giovanni Guadagnuolo, a seasoned consultant and Lean transformation leader with decades of experience driving operational excellence across Europe. Luca shares how his journey began at Whirlpool, why he was drawn to Lean from the start, and what it takes to align people across cultures, industries, and leadership levels.

🔻 How to engage frontline teams with A3 thinking and problem-solving

🔻 Why leadership’s role is to support, not control

🔻 Lessons from rolling out Lean across nine European plants

🔻 How to sustain cultural change long after the consultant leaves

🔻 Why continuous improvement is as natural as drinking water

EP 27: Bruce Hamilton on Toast Kaizen and the Power of Teaching Lean Through Story

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Bruce Hamilton, the legendary “Toast Kaizen” teacher, to explore how storytelling can unlock a culture of continuous improvement. Bruce shares lessons from decades of Lean leadership, why respect for people is the true foundation of TPS, and how even small, inch wide and mile deep improvements can transform an organization. From poka yoke to AI, he shows why the future of Lean is still rooted in everyday learning and respect.

🔻 The story behind Toast Kaizen and why it still resonates today

🔻 The four Lean philosophies that never change: customer first, people as the most valuable resource, go see, and kaizen every day

🔻 Why inch wide, mile deep is the smartest way to build momentum

🔻 How poka yoke turns mistakes into smarter systems

🔻 Where AI fits in and why it should be AI plus people

EP 26: Cindy Deekitwong on How to Inspire Teams and Connect With Customers

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Cindy Deekitwong, a global sales and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience across specialty chemicals, semiconductors, healthcare, and packaging.

🔻 Why value added vs. non value added thinking applies everywhere from gas stations to global supply chains

🔻 How “small is the new big” when it comes to culture change and quick wins

🔻 The leadership shift from telling to empowering and why listening is the first step

🔻 Why continuous improvement must expand beyond the shop floor into sales, marketing, and innovation

EP 25: Bob Luna on EQ, NPS, and the Metrics That Drive Real Improvement

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Bob Luna, a leader who has scaled businesses from $3 million to $500 million across industries like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and even Amazon and Procter & Gamble. With over 30 years of experience, Bob shares why emotional intelligence (EQ) and extreme ownership are just as critical to improvement as value stream maps and throughput metrics.

🔻 Why customer feedback through NPS can’t just be collected—it has to drive action

🔻 How EQ and ownership accelerate Lean and CI initiatives across every level of an organization

🔻 The hidden cost of poor processes (and why it often eats up 30% of revenue)

🔻 Practical ways leaders can simplify metrics, build capability, and avoid firefighting

EP 24: Monika Mangla on How CI is Evolving In The Age of AI

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Monika Mangla, Managing Director at Accenture and a global leader in finance and digital transformation, to explore how continuous improvement is evolving in the age of AI.

🔻 Why AI is accelerating the pace of continuous improvement

🔻 How finance and operations leaders can build stronger cross-functional alignment

🔻 The critical role of data and governance in making AI valuable

🔻 Why employees should see AI as an assistant, not a replacement

EP 23: Christine Lavoie on How Great Leaders Build a Culture of Improvement

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Christine Lavoie, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Operational Excellence leader, to explore how great leaders create a culture where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work. Christine shares how curiosity, empowerment, and the right tools help organizations unlock the full potential of their people.

🔻 Why continuous improvement is a mindset, not just a methodology

🔻 The project roles that make real change sustainable

🔻 How leaders can size work between Kaizen and DMAIC effectively

🔻 Practical strategies to sustain change for the long term

EP 22: Heather Everton on Building Alignment Without Micromanagement

In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Heather Everton, Vice President of Product at Merrick Bank, to explore how daily standups can transform the way teams work. Heather shares why standups are not just another meeting, but a powerful ritual for building trust, creating alignment, and driving clarity without falling into the trap of micromanagement.

🔻 Why a 10-minute standup can replace 10 meetings

🔻 How standups build trust and autonomy inside teams

🔻 The role of rituals in creating culture and alignment

🔻 Practical tips for running effective standups in any industry

EP 21: Dr. Keith Clinkscales on The Human Side of Performance Management

In this episode, Dr. Keith Clinkscales shares his remarkable journey from electrical engineer and Lean Six Sigma consultant to Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Management at Palm Beach County. With insight shaped by decades of experience in both private industry and public service, Dr. Clinkscales unpacks the real driver of performance: how people feel, think, and show up to work.

🔻 Why attitude might be the most underrated performance tool

🔻 How toxic cultures get created, and how leaders c a n change them

🔻 What public sector teams taught Dr. Clinkscales about legacy systems and lasting change

🔻 How to create cross-department collaboration in siloed organizations

🔻 How to tell if its time to stay and lead change or time to move on

EP 20: Ken Snyder on What Every Executive Needs to Understand About CI

What does it really take to build a culture of continuous improvement that lasts? In this episode, Keith sits down with Ken Snyder—Executive Director of the Shingo Institute—to unpack the leadership behaviors, cultural systems, and guiding principles that separate companies who talk about improvement from those who actually achieve it.

🔻 Why most CI efforts fail to sustain—and how to avoid idea killers

🔻 The three most important drivers of lasting results

🔻 What executives often overlook about culture, systems, and strategy

🔻 How to move from isolated success to enterprise-wide alignment

🔻 The surprising role of humility in high-performing organizations

EP 19: Tyson Heaton on The Human Side of Lean Transformation

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Tyson Heaton, Senior Director of Co-Learning and Business Strategy at Lean Enterprise Institute, to explore why the most powerful part of Lean isn’t the tools, it’s the people.

🔻 Why capability beats quick fixes

🔻 How “no problems” is the biggest problem of all

🔻 The link between lean systems, flow, and human well-being

🔻 How AI might become a third coach in Lean development

🔻 Why frustration should trigger curiosity, not blame

EP 18: Kevin Clay on The Belt System: What It Means & What It Doesn’t

Is your belt more than just a piece of paper? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Kevin Clay—Master Black Belt and founder of Six Sigma Development Solutions—to break down the real meaning behind Lean Six Sigma belt certifications.

🔻 The difference between a belt and actual capability

🔻 Why “testing out” isn’t enough—and what to do instead

🔻 What white, yellow, green, and black belts really mean

🔻 How to build training that creates real change agents

🔻 What to look for when hiring certified practitioners

EP 17: Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth on Leading Through Obeya and Metrics That Drive

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth—diving deeper into Obeya, visual leadership, and metrics that drive action. Missed Part 1? Check out Episode 16: The Visual Language That Transforms Work.

🔻 The real purpose of Obeya (hint: it’s not about adding more dashboards)

🔻 Why digital tools often fail to deliver behavior change

🔻 The neuroscience of “touching” data—and how it drives accountability

🔻 The difference between metrics that monitor vs. metrics that drive

🔻 Gwen’s “10 Doorways” framework for building a truly visual workplace

🔻 How visuality grows self-leaders and transforms organizational culture

EP 16: Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth on The Visual Language That Transforms Work

In this episode, host Keith Norris welcomes back visual workplace pioneer Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth for a rich, wide-ranging conversation on the language of visual work—and how it transforms people, processes, and entire organizations.

🔻 What “I-driven” visuality really means—and why it matters

🔻 The two questions that drive every visual solution

🔻 Why so many 5S programs fail—and how to go deeper

🔻 The human side of improvement: how visuality reduces stress and unlocks growth

🔻 Why visual thinking is not just a tool—but a language

EP 15: Randy Kesterson on Explaining Lean Through Visual Storytelling

In this episode, Keith Norris reconnects with Randy Kesterson—Lean strategist, consultant, and creator of the Lean Journey cartoon series—to explore how visual storytelling can simplify, clarify, and challenge the way we think about Lean.

🔻 A deep dive into The Lean Journey: A cartoon series inspired by the Star Wars Franchise

🔻 Closing the gap between Lean theory and everyday reality

🔻 The role of AI in Lean thinking and predictive problem-solving

🔻 How tiered meetings drive accountability

🔻 Making Hoshin Kanri work through simplified strategic alignment

EP 14: Spencer Maybee on What Lean Looks Like From The Start

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Spencer Maybee—Vice President at Western Pipe Fabrication and second-generation small business leader—to explore what Lean looks like when you’re just getting started.

🔻 Why Lean clicked the first time Spencer heard it explained through welding

🔻 What it takes to push change inside a multi-generational family business

🔻 How small changes like shared spreadsheets made a big impact

🔻 What respect for people looks like

🔻 The real-life tension between tradition, growth, and new ideas

EP 13: Andreas Mader on Being Better Tomorrow Than Today

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Andreas Mader—CEO of Aperia Corporation and longtime Lean transformation leader—to explore how real improvement happens: not through perfection, but through progress.

🔻 Why sustainment is the missing piece in most CI programs

🔻 The one mindset shift that makes improvement stick

🔻 How to create simplicity in the face of complexity

🔻 What it really means to lead through service

🔻 Why being better every day beats being perfect someday

🔻 The difference between solving a problem and owning it

EP 12: Jesse Rendon on Turning Frontline Teams Into Change Leaders

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Jesse Rendon, CI leader and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, to unpack what it really takes to turn frontline employees into empowered agents of change.

🔻 How to turn operators into problem solvers

🔻 Why coaching beats training every time

🔻 What happens when leaders truly listen to their teams

🔻 The role of “Lean Squads” in scaling improvement

🔻 Why your frontline knows the solutions—but only if they’re invited

🔻 How to build belief, not just compliance

EP 11: Catherine McDonald on The Habit of Curiosity That Drives Real Improvement

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Catherine McDonald—leadership coach, lean consultant, and expert in organizational behavior—to explore why curiosity and reflection are the true building blocks of continuous improvement and effective leadership.

🔻 Why most leaders misunderstand “respect”—and how to lead with the real thing

🔻 How to create space for improvement (without losing productivity)

🔻 The problem with performative leadership—and how to go deeper

🔻 Why one-on-ones are the most underused tool in leadership

🔻 What it means to be proactive, not just reactive, as a leader

🔻 How to lead people, not just manage results

EP 10: Ted Iverson on Sustaining Results Through Better Leadership

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Ted Iverson, veteran transformation leader, Shingo Prize examiner, and former McKinsey expert, to unpack what it really takes to sustain results through leadership—not just tools or tactics.

🔻 Why cutting costs is the lowest form of consulting (and what to do instead)

🔻 How to build self-funding CI systems that actually last

🔻 The leadership behaviors that turn stars into star builders

🔻 How Leader Standard Work drives cultural change (not just compliance)

🔻 What horseback riding and leadership have in common

🔻 How to set goals so ambitious they force people to work differently—not harder

EP 9: Matt Kroll on Structured Problem Solving That Scales

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Matt Kroll, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and founder of Chalmers Street Consulting, to explore how structured problem solving can be scaled across teams, industries, and maturity levels—without overcomplicating it.

🔻 DMAIC vs. PDCA — and how to know which one fits

🔻 How to make Gemba walks work beyond the factory floor

🔻 Why waste walks are still one of the most underused CI tools

🔻 The real reason metrics fail (and how to make them stick)

🔻 What makes CI work in the mid-market—where resources are tight

🔻 How to lead improvement efforts without freaking people out

EP 8: Will Miller, PhD on Leading Change Without Losing Trust

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Dr. Will Miller, Associate VP for Continuous Improvement and Institutional Performance at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to explore what it really takes to lead meaningful change inside complex, high-stakes environments.

🔻 Why people don’t resist change—they resist being changed

🔻 How to lead innovation in a bureaucracy-heavy environment

🔻 What higher ed can teach us about tailoring CI to your audience

🔻 Why culture clashes derail change—and how to avoid them

🔻 Metrics that matter (and how to stop tracking the wrong stuff)

🔻 The secret to making compliance feel empowering, not draining

EP 7: Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth on The Power of Workplace Visuality

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth—visual workplace pioneer, Shingo Institute faculty fellow, and author of Visual Workplace and Work That Makes Sense. Together, they dive deep into the world of “visuality,” the often misunderstood backbone of operational excellence that enables clarity, flow, and empowerment at every level of the organization.

🔻 Why visuality is not just a tool—but a strategic intervention

🔻 The real difference between visual management and visual performance

🔻 How organizations unintentionally rob people of purpose (and how to give it back)

🔻 The “I-driven” workplace and the two core questions behind meaningful work

🔻 How flow, critical thinking, and “teaching without answers” transform teams

🔻 Why metrics without leadership are just decoration—and what real leaders must do

EP 6: Dr. Alan Barnard on Solving the Right Problems with the Theory Of Constraints

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Dr. Alan Barnard—decision scientist, CEO of Goldratt Research Labs, and one of the world’s leading experts on the Theory of Constraints—to explore how organizations can solve the right problems, not just the most obvious ones. Drawing on decades of research, consulting, and direct work with Dr. Eli Goldratt, Alan shares practical insights into how TOC helps companies focus their improvement efforts where it matters most.

🔻 Why most systems fail by solving the wrong problems first

🔻 How the Theory of Constraints reveals the real bottleneck blocking progress

🔻 The five types of constraints every system must manage

🔻 Why “focus” beats “fix everything” in continuous improvement

🔻 How to apply TOC principles to flow, decision-making, and strategy

🔻 Why finding the constraint is the first step to making better, faster decisions

EP 5: Randy Kesterson on Making Strategy Stick with Hoshin Kanri

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Randy Kesterson, executive coach, transformation leader, and author of The Basics of Hoshin Kanri, to explore how companies can finally make their strategy stick—by linking it to execution, culture, and change management that works.

🔻 Why most strategic plans fail (and how to focus on what really matters)

🔻 The power of Hoshin Kanri to align teams and cut through initiative overload

🔻 What leaders miss when they treat Lean as a tool—not a business enabler

🔻 How to overcome resistance to change with ADKAR and real buy-in

🔻 Why cultural change needs structure, not slogans

🔻 How to deploy strategy across teams without another binder on the shelf

EP 4: Jared Raggozine on Turning Frontline Ideas Into Big Wins

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Jared Ragozzine, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, to explore how companies can turn everyday frontline ideas into real, measurable wins—and build a culture of continuous improvement that actually sticks.

🔻 Why suggestion boxes and Kaizen events aren’t enough to sustain improvement

🔻 How the A6 card helps teams capture, prioritize, and act on quick wins

🔻 The key to unlocking frontline engagement (without becoming the bottleneck)

🔻 What leaders must do to support CI—from approving time to doing a Gemba walk

🔻 Why visual management beats spreadsheets when it comes to momentum

🔻 How to build real CI habits with simple rituals, not massive rollouts

EP 3: Kevin Clay on Why Lean Fails (and How to Get It Right)

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Kevin Clay, founder of Six Sigma Development Solutions and author of Why They Fail, to explore why most Lean and CI efforts fall short—and how to build a culture where they actually thrive.

🔻 Why most Lean initiatives fail (and how to avoid the common traps)

🔻 The mistake of training belts without building the right infrastructure

🔻 What executives must do to make CI stick—from KPIs to project prioritization

🔻 Why “Go find a project” is a sign of failure

🔻 The role of a “project hopper” and how to align improvement with business goals

🔻 How CI drives real career growth—and how to build programs that last

EP 2: Andrei Anca on How To Build A CI Culture That Actually Works

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Andrei Anca, author of Lead From Any Seat, to unpack what actually makes CI work—and why most companies get it wrong.

🔻 Why you don’t need a title to lead improvement

🔻 How CI programs lose momentum and how to fix it

🔻 The difference between problem pointers, finders, and solvers

🔻 Why most metrics are misleading—and how to measure what matters

🔻 How AI and change management will shape the future of CI

🔻 The one root cause mistake nearly every team makes

EP 1: Nick Katko on How Lean Accounting Unlocks Real ROI

In this kickoff episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Lean Accounting expert Nick Katko—author, consultant, and pioneer in connecting finance with continuous improvement.

🔻 Why Standard Costing Falls Short

🔻 The Box Score Breakdown

🔻 Common Pitfalls in Lean Journeys

🔻 The ROI of Lean & Creating Capacity

🔻 Advice for Finance Pros & CI Leaders